ASOS confirms it will no longer be selling cashmere, silk, down feather & mohair

Only in May this year, ASOS announced that they would be banning the sale of mohair on their website after allegations of animal cruelty were surfaced by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Now, ASOS, which sells over 850 labels as well as its own clothing and accessories lines has announced that it will take one step further: they will also be banning the sale of cashmere, silk, and feathers by the end of January 2019. In fact, if you search “mohair”, “silk”, or “cashmere” on ASOS right now, you would notice the majority of products being heavily discounted, proving that they are truly taking steps to phase out these pieces.

The Dark Truth Behind Mohair, Down Feather & More

In May of this year, PETA released an undercover video taken in a South America angora goat farm depicting goats being mutilated and forcibly shorn. Mohair, the hair of angora goats, is supposed to be collected through a safe and painless process of shearing, but it was reported by PETA that many of the shearers were often careless because they were paid by the amount of hair collected, instead of by hourly wages. Additionally, due to the high demand for mohair (by retailers such as ASOS), many of these goats are being sheared in the winter – precisely when they need their hair most.

Down feather is typically a byproduct of the meat and foie gras industries, where many ducks and geese are exploited for their feathers, while silkworms are boiled alive for the creation of silk used for shirts, dresses, and the lining of handbags, just to name a few. In fact, PETA reported that approximately 6,600 silkworms die to make one kilogram of silk.

This move means ASOS is joining the ranks over 140 brands, including Topshop, H&M, and Marks & Spencer, by halting its use of mohair after the PETA video surfaced. It’s always great when big brands set the tone for the rest of the industry to follow – we’re looking forward to more retailers pledge their commitment similarly.

For more information, check out ASOS’ Animal Welfare Policy here.

Kanako Sugawara

Photo: Getty Images

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